Display rack



March w31, 1936.

J. A, GAGE 2,035,874

DI SPLAY RACK Filed Feb. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIZ iFLgl 9r mmh 31, 1936. J. A. GAGE 2,035,874

DISPLAY RACK Filed Feb. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'I /Nl/ENTOR v i @hn A. Cid f2 Y BY n 2% 32 m's 'AT ORA/EYv Patented Mar. 31, 1936 MNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My present invention relates to display apparatus and more particularly to racks and stands, and it has for its object to provide a neat, light and eflicient device of this character that Will be convenient in the display of small articles, Such as garden seed packets. The improvements are directed in part toward rendering the rack collapsible and extensible in a simple way; toward the construction of the rack units themselves, vand toward means whereby the rack may be utilized as a stand in connection with a container in which latter all of the parts may be housed for storage and transportation purposes. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will berhereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed outvin the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings: y

Fig. `1 is an elevation of a rack constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention shown in use as a stand;

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through the container-base;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rack and containerbase disposed as in Fig. l;

A Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the container-base with the stand removed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged central vertical section through the rack, extended, with the central standard broken away; Y

Fig. 6 is a similar section through the rack collapsed, and nested within the containerbase;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective .of a portion of one of the rack units better showing the formation of the pockets and the manner in which the packets are accommodated therein, andA Y Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the tie bar on the lower rack.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the rack proper consists of a plurality of units of progressively decreasing diameter which, when extended, have a pyramidal form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. In the present instance, there are three, indicated generally at A, B and C. Each unit comprises upper and lower vertically spaced concentric inner rings I and 2 of the same size and a concentric ring 3 of larger diameter in the plane of the lower ring 2. An interlacing of wires between thethree rings of each unit produces an annular series of packets therein in a .the rack is in condition for use. linward pressure with the ngers on latches accompanied by downward pressure on manner best shown in Fig. '7 where, in dotted lines, is shown a seed packet D occupying one of these Apackets on display. Tracing the wire on this ligure, it is bound on the upper ring I at 4, proceeds outwardly horizontally at 5 to constitute a side Wall or support, thence circumferentially and downwardly inV anangle at 6 to provide a front wall or outer support around ring 3 and back to ring 2 to form a bottom support at '1, thence upwardly at 8 to constitute a back. The wire is 10 here hooped yand hooked over ring I at 9 and then the bending is repeated in reverse order to produce the same elements and complete the other side of the pocket, as clearly shown in the figure. It is immaterial whether one length of wire or a series of lengths is used, though it is possible to use but one length.

When the device is collapsed, as in Fig. 6, the upper units A and B nest within each other and both of them nest within the bottom unit as shown in Fig. 6, so that they are comprised within the confines of the larger unit and may be accommodated within a relatively flat container box I0. Suitably secured to the two inner lower units of the 25 ringsl and 2 of each of the rack andv spaced at intervals circumferentially thereabout are a.- plurality of spring latches II having inner inclined guide portions I2 terminating in offset loops I3 at the top constituting clips or catch portions. The outer ring 3 of the unit 3 nextabove slides vertically in these guides and when the unit is fully raised or extended, such ring snaps into the catch portions I3 and is ,securelylheld thereby in both directions or, conversely, the latches snap into interlocking en- 3 gagementwith the ring, as in Figs. 1 and 5, and Subsequent the spring theengaged unit allows the latter to slip back 4 down the guides into nesting position again. Thus, the rack as so far described may stand on lower unit C as a base for a counter display or it may be suspended from the upper unit A as a hanging display or it may be used as a oor 4 stand in the following manner:

I provide a knock-down standard or post I4, the sections of which are detachably connected as by the bayonet joints shown at I5 in Figs. 1 and 2. These sections are preferably of a 5 length which, when disconnected, permits them to be stored in the same container box ID with the collapsed rack. This same container box is preferably also used as a. base for the stand, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. It has, for this purpose, 5

a divided cover I6, the parts of which are hinged to the box at opposite sides, as indicated at I1, and held at the sides and center by suitable clips I8. At their meeting edges, the cover portions are notched to jointly form a circular opening I9, below which and in alinement therewith is a step 20 in the bottom of the box. The lower end of the standard I4 is inserted in the opening I9 and lodged in the step 20, whereby it is adequately supported and braced in all directions by the cover.

Spanning diametrically the lower rings 2 and 3 of the top unit A and the bottom unit C are tie bars or bridge pieces 2l and 22 having central openings through which the standard I4 may pass. The upper bridge piece 2| rests upon a pin or shoulder 23 on the standard, while the lower bridge piece 22 merely braces against it, its opening being enlarged, as indicated at 24 in Fig. 8, to accommodate the pin 23 when the rack is placed on the standard. The units are thus hung from the upper one and the rack as a whole is free to rotate on the` standard to better inspect the contents.

I claim as my invention:

l. A display stand of the character described embodying a plurality of racks supported one Yupon the other and rising in tiers, said racks having progressively smallerA maximum diameters, an upper rack being adapted to collapse and nest within the one next below, the rack units being guided one upon the other and being provided with interlocking latch means; for releasably holding them in relatively extended position against vertical movement in bothdirections.

2. A display stand of' the character described embodying a plurality of racks supported one upon the otlfier'and rising in tiers, said racks having progressively'smaller maximum diameters, an upper rack being adapted to collapse and nest within the one next below, each rackI comprising upper and lower rings connected by wires woven between the two to provide pockets.

3. A display stand of the character' described, the combination with a central standard, of a plurality of racks dependingly supportedY one from the other, the upper rack being'supported on the standard and adapted to be collapsed and nested within a lower rack, a box-like base adapted to contain the racks when collapsed and being provided with a cover, and means on the cover for supporting the standard in erect posi-tion. v

4. In a display stand of the characterdescribed, the combination with a central standard, of a plurality of hollowracks of' different sizes dependingly supported one from the other, the upper rack being supported on the standard and adapted to be collapsed and nested within a lower rack, a base adapted to contain the racks when collapsed and being provided with a two part cover, and means comprised between the cover and base for supporting the standard in erect position.

5. A display stand of the character described embodying a plurality ci racks supported one upon the other and rising in tiers, said racks having progressively smaller maximum diameters, an upper rack being adapted to collapse and nest within the one next below, the rack units being guided one upon the other and being provided with guides also constituting relatively interlocking latch means for releasably holding them in relatively extended position against vertical movement in both directions.

6. A display stand of the character described embodying a plurality of racks supported one upon the other and rising in tiers, said racks having progressively smaller maximum diameters, an upper rack being adapted to collapse and nest within the one next below, each rack comprising upper and lower rings connected by wires woven between the two to provide pockets in combination with guide members mounted on a ring of one rack and engaging a ring otv the adjacent rack, said guide members being alsol formed to constitute spring latches for holding the racks in relatively extended position.

'7. A display rack of the character described, comprising asupporting post having a seat thereon, means for displaying merchandise detachably mounted on said post and including sections adapted to nest one within the otherwhen removed from the post and to be suspended one below the other when in a display position on the post, and meansA connecting said display sections for relative movement into and out of their nesting position, one of said sections having a suspension member engaging said post-seat and another oi said sections having a guide member engaging the post.

8. A display rack of the character described, comprising a supporting post having a seat thereon, means for displaying merchandise detachably mounted on said post and including sections adapted to nest one within the other when removed irom the post and to be suspended one below the other when in a display position onthe post, one of said display sections constituting a support for the remaining sections and having a suspension member thereon engageable with said post-seat, a. guide member applied to another of said sections and engageable with said post, and complementary inter-engaging means applied to the contiguous portions of the display sections for guiding the relative movements thereof into and out of their nested position, for maintaining them in alinement and for limiting their extended movements in display position.

JOHN A. GAGE. 

